Over 80,000 trucks enter city as ban not renewed

NEW DELHI: Delhi landed in a peculiar situation after the ban on entry of trucks carrying non-essential materials was not renewed on Sunday night. While the matter remained pending before the transport minister, the situation became more complicated with the corporations deciding to allow trucks to enter the city without paying tolls to avoid congestions at the border posts. A government official said on the condition of anonymity, “In view of the continuing severe-plus condition of air quality, it has been decided to further continue the closure of trucks coming into Delhi. The file with the order has already been sent and now has to be cleared by the transport minister.” Despite repeated attempts, transport minister Kailash Gahlot couldn’t be contacted. The air quality index (AQI) on Sunday and Monday was in ‘severe’ and ‘severe-plus’ categories as per Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Under the severe-plus air quality condition, the entry of trucks except for essential commodities is not allowed. “GRAP is notified by the Union environment ministry under the Environment Protection Act. SC has directed its implementation. How can Delhi allow entry of trucks in such emergency conditions? It’s a public health crisis,” said an EPCA member. The transport department had directed the enforcement authorities to ban the entry of non-destined trucks till November 12. Police said the drive to ban the entry was conducted till Sunday midnight. According to an estimate, more than 80,000 trucks entered since then. On Sunday night, traffic cops managed to avoid a massive chaos as trucks started entering Delhi. After teams led by joint commissioner Garima Bhat-nagar managed this traffic till 2.30am, cops requested their counterparts in Haryana and UP around 4am to stop almost 50% of the trucks at the NCR borders. If all trucks were allowed into the city at the same time, almost all of Outer Ring Road and Ring Road would have remained stalled through Monday, said officers. ( Siddharth Roy)